The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 08, 2000, Page 2, Image 2
Clic (5amctock
Lottery
fan page 1
I over the lottery issue,” said Kerry Ma
1 her, the man who played Georgia con
venience store clerk “Bubba” in a se
ries of ads for the pro-lottery campaign.
For lottery opponents, the vote was
a devastating defeat.
“We are of course disappointed with
the results of this referendum, but we
are proud of the valiant fight we made
and hopeful for South Carolina’s future,”
said Kathy Bingham, chairman of “No
Lottery 2000” and one of the most vo
cal lottery opponents.
According to Bingham, the result
wasn’t for a lack of effort on the part of
lottery opponents.
“We gave our best, we fought the
good fight,” Bingham said with tears
in her eyes. “We have no regrets and we
end our journey satisfied that we have
alerted the state to the dangers that lie
ahead and leave behind a groundswell
of support for our public education sys
tem.”
But the defeat wasn’t all negative,
Bingham said.
“Tonight we are disappointed, but
our lives are richer for the efforts we
gave, for the friendships we made, for
the walls we tore down and for the cer
tain knowledge that we gave it our best,”
Bingham said.
Other lottery opponents echoed that
sentiment.
“So many good things have come
from the new network of relationships
that cross party lines and racial lines that
we can only believe that only more good
things can follow,” said Ken Wingate, a
member of the “No Lottery 2000” ex
ecutive board.
Wingate said lottery opponents
wouldn’t stop trying to improve Geor
gia education.
“The ‘Bubba’ character has been
saying with tongue in cheek, ‘We love
South Carolina,’ but we truly love South
Carolina and will continue to work tire-'
lessly to bring education improvements,”
Wingate said.
Lexington Republican Chair Tom
my Windsor said he was surprised by
the results.
“It’s very hard to argue against peo
ple who say they’ll send kids to college
for free — even if it’s not true,”
Charles Prashaw and Amanda Silva
contributed to this report.
The city/state desk can be reached at
gamecockcitydesk@hotmaiLcoin.
U.S. Election
f cm page 1
out to dinner while awaiting election re
turns.
“I don’t believe some of these states
they’ve called, like Florida,” Bush said,
before the Gore electoral victory was re
called.
But Bush demonstrated respect for
Gore, refusing to underestimate the De
mocratic contender.
“I’ve run against a formidable oppo
nent,” Bush said.
Nearing 1:30 in the morning, seven
states were still “too close to call,” in
cluding Florida, Oregon and Iowa.
With Florida shaping up to be the de
ciding factor, the Gore camp, once con
fident they would carry the state governed
by Bush’s brother Jeb, admitted by night’s
end that a defeat was possible.
“It looks like the candidate who wins
Florida will be the next president of the
United States,” Gore spokesman Mark
Fabiani said.
By midnight, Bush had defeated Gore
in 29 states for 246 electoral votes.
Gore had won 18 states and the District
of Columbia with an electoral tally of242.
With votes from 72 percent of precincts
reported nationally. Bush was leading the
popular vote with more than 37 million
votes, and Gore trailed behind him, just a
few hundred thousand short of Bush’s to
tal. While Nader’s presence was felt, Re
form candidate Pat Buchanan barely reg
istered in the popular tally.
At least one clear electoral message
was sent earlier in the evening when it
was confirmed Republicans would re
tain control of the House of Representa
tives. Republicans even gained one De
mocratic seat in Nevada. Democrats picked
up a few Republican seats in Florida, but
not enough to unseat the solidified GOP
majority.
In New York, Hillary Rodham Clin
ton dealt a defeating blow to Republican
Senate contender Rick Lazio, who stepped
in the race against Clinton in lieu of Newf
York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who
bowed out this past spring because of a
battle with prostate cancer. Clinton will
take over the Senate seat from retiring
Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan,
defeating Lazio 52 percent to 42 percent.
Clinton greeted a cheering New York
crowd, accepting victory from New York
residents who elected an Arkansas out
sider to be one of the state’s most pow
erful legislators.
“You taught me, you tested me,”
Clinton told the crowd. “I am determined
to make a difference for all of you.”
The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
The city/state desk can be reached at
gamecockcitydesk@hotinail.com.
$
S.C.
Congressional
fan page 1
“The voters can trust him,” Dell said
“They know where he stands on issues,
and they know Congressman Spence is
in touch with his constituents.”
Early in the evening, Dell was
confident of a Spence win.
“We (were) expecting a large vic
tory, and Spence plans on partying with
the rest of the Republicans at Seawell’s
after the results are announced,” Dell
said.
Spence Office Deputy Manager
Taryn Shekitka was also anticipating the
win, along with a sizeable maigin of per
centage points.
The expectation maigin for a Spence
victory was “anywhere from 5 to 10 per
cent,” Shekitka said. “He has a strong
record of working for the state and
district, and he had the incumbency go
ing for him, and Congressman Spence
has strong emotional bonds to the state.”
USC student Brandon Falls, 18, vot
ed for Rep. Spence after Spence made
agood impression on him in high school.
“He came to an ROTC program
while I was in high school,” Falls said.
“I met him there, and he was a really
nice guy, and this is my way of repay
ing him.”
Spence was encouraged by the Re
publican congressional victories.
“It’s great, I just can’t believe it,”
Spence said. “I couldn’t be more pleased
at tonight’s turnout.”
State Senator Joe Wilson of Lex
ington District 23 was also very pleased
with local results.
“I’ve seen a phenomenal turnout in
Lexington County. I’m very proud of
Congressman Floyd Spence’s victory.”
Local Republicans were cautiously
optimistic in the historically close
Bush/Gore election. Henry McMaster,
Chairman of South Carolina Republi
can National Committee was hopeful
for the Texas governor.
“We’re excited. It’saback-and-forth
kind of election,” McMaster said.
Republican incumbents won big in
the congressional election, with Hen
ry E. Brown defeating Andrew Clay
borne Brack in House District 1. In Dis
trict 3,.Lindsay 0. Graham defeated
George L. Brightharp, and incumbent
Jim DeMint ran unopposed in District
4.
Some Democrats up for re-election
made a strong showing as well.
John M. Spratt defeated Carl H. Gul
lick for the House District 5 seat.
Democratic congressional incum
bent Jim Clyburn was elected to his
fourth term representing South Car
olina District 6 in a landslide election,
taking 78 percent of the vote and hand
ily defeating Republican challenger Vince
Ellison.
Clyburn, who is the first African
American to be elected to S.C. Congress
since post-Reconstruction, has run on a
solid platform of urban improvement.
He has initiated a $10 million empow
erment fund for Columbia and Sumter
and worked for the historic preservation
of houses. His Historic Home Owner
ship Assistance Act gives “tax credit#
for families who renovate and build
homes in historic neighborhoods,” ac
cording to his Web site.
Regardless of the Republican sweep,
according to Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Or
angeburg District 66, the idea of South
Carolina’s Congress becoming Democ
ratic is not such a farfetched one. She
said it “depends on the people in
South Carolina if Democrats take con
gressional seats. Democrats have to fight
for their seats.”
The city/state desk can be reached at
gamecockcitydesk@hotmaiLcom.
4
$10 OFF ANY 3 DAY RENTAL I
714-0089
5317 Two Notch Rd
Columbia
732-7775
7940 Broad River Rd.
Irmo
•No credit card needed
• locally owned a operated
739-2770
1017 Sunset Blvd
West Columbia
356-1072
115 West Main St.
Lexington
.COUPON
Maurice's B-B-Q
■
r
One coupon per customer.
I not good in conjunction
I with any other promotion,
not redeemable in cash.
nt Offer expires 11/14/00.
Offer Good at Ony I
of maurice's 9 |
Locations. B
_
0 GOURMtT ^ _ i
lm¥Bj /rt
COUPON